[IC] A Bloody Murder

[cthulu]

Alessandro was relieved to hear what the fae had to say on the matter of the night before. By the sounds of it the drugs had not left him so lost for thought that he had breached their personal boundaries. It was good to hear that Rei also found some enjoyment and pleasure in the act himself. Though as the explanation continued he almost regretted asking, he smiled faintly though and moved to stand once he was fully dressed. "I'm glad, I was...concerned the drugs would have made me take things further than they should have been and I am glad you found it comfortable."

He made his way to the table and picked at his breakfast, "It is likely a waste of effort to ask you not to accompany when I see my father isn't it? Could I at least ask you remain out of sight. He will be cruel to me Rei and I need you to be okay with that, otherwise his cruelty will be turned on you and he will try and be rid of you. I don't want that, your presence in the castle is refreshing, your company is easy and talking to you...I've never been so relaxed with my words, except around the meister. It is nice to have someone my age...well...around about my age? That I can speak to like this." Alessandro ate a little and had some to drink before glancing back to Rei, "You make life quite interesting." He stated earnestly.

When they were both ready Alessandro made his way towards the main hall, there the steward stood with his beady eyes fixed on the Prince and the King sat on his throne. There were none others present which gave Alessandro a sinking feeling, he only hoped that his father was wise enough not to be too harsh on him. He'd damaged a wig before and he was likely to do so again if he wasn't careful, likewise his wound didn't need more aggravation and in fact he'd been told not by the doctor hovering half out of sight behind his father's throne.

"You never cease to amaze me." The King started, though by the tone it was clear it wasn't a compliment and the sneer in the King's tone spoke of his disgust. "You threaten one of my guards over a boy?" The king sounded livid, Alessandro didn't break his stride nor flinch at the King's words, "I do when your guard lays his hands on-"
"Silence boy, do you not realise what trouble you are in?" The king sounded incredulous, his hands gripping the thrones arms tightly.
"You threaten my guards and I hear you decided to protect your bodyguard too!" Alessandro stopped a few feet from the raised area the throne was on, staying at the bottom of the carpeted steps that lead up. "Do you have rocks for brains boy? He is expendable, as is your boy you do not protect things that can be thrown away."
"With all due respect Father I do not think they are expendable."
"Oh really? I have a King's own army of loyal knights ready and waiting to do anything for our family."
"They are loyal only to you father."
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"I wanted a bodyguard who is loyal to me, not the will of the King."
"Insolent child!" The King yelled.
Alessandro stood where he was and sighed lightly, "Father, I am not you and never will I be- "
"That is an understatement." The king growled.
"The people's will matters to me, my 'boy' as you call him matters to me and so does my body guard."
"A body guard who can't defend someone is worthless, I should have him fired!"
"It is not his lack of ability but my desire to keep him safe that resulted in my injury."
The King looked to the Doctor who sighed, "His body is weak but if you avoid his chest and the site of the wound he will be fine." She uttered beneath her breath.

Just as Alessandro expected, the King gestured to the steward who had with him the cane he used for punishment. The King spoke as the advisor approached and Alessandro removed his shirt and braced himself on a pillar. "You will learn your place demon spawn, even if I have to beat you into shape." The Steward didn't so much as flinch as he brought the cane down across the Prince's upper back, a vivid pink line soon appearing angrily across Alessandro's flesh. As the second fell against the top half of his back he bit his lip and his father continued. "Bring Peter, he will suffer his masters fate." The king ordered aloud. The guards outside must have heard because a minute later Peter was dragged in, spotting Alessandro he cringed as he was positioned opposite, "If he cries out so much as once he will be fired." Alessandro shot his father a look of horror before looking back to Peter.

The servant looked terrified but he looked determined too. Alessandro could see the vein bulging on Peter's throat which hinted at restraint in his words and he was thankful. Offering the squire a small smile he flinched as the cane came against his skin again, bringing a small amount of blood to the surface beneath which would leave a wonderful bruise later on.

The pair took ten lashes of the cane each and Peter, to his credit, didn't so much as utter a peep. The Prince was impressed but his father wasn't done yet. As the pair were left to regain their breath the King demanded, "A King does not put himself in danger for commoners."
Alessandro, helping Peter to stand glanced at his Father, "When I am King-"
"I will do everything in my power to see that day never happens." The King then announced for the doctor to check his son and left the room. The steward quick to follow behind him.

The doctor gave Alessandro a cursory glance over and sighed, "I warned you boy." She uttered in that hissing tone of yours. "Do you have any of the rubbing alcohol I gave you last time?" Alessandro nodded, "Then you know what to do, take the boy and get out of here and stay out of your father's way until he's calmed down."

Seemingly alone in the room Peter collapsed against the Prince and whimpered quietly, the Prince, far more used to this sort of punishment than Peter, ran a hand into the boy's hair and dropped a kiss to the top of his head, "You were so brave Peter."
"I was terrified, I thought my legs would buckle beneath me."
"You did good, I am so impressed." Peter went scarlet and smiled faintly.

[PopeAlessandros]

Rei is curious as to what the prince means about things going further than they should have, but instead of asking he just nods slowly, keeping his eyes on the young man. The fae follows him back to the breakfast dish to grab another bite or two to tide him over until he can hit the kitchens, but pauses when the prince asks him about not accompanying him. He's about to ask why when the prince moves right on to explaining. His brows slowly furrow as the man speaks however and he can feel a touch of ire growing inside of him. 'The man will be cruel, for his son surviving an attack? An attack that should never have made it through the front gates? One that his soldiers were to incompetent to prevent? I seriously question this man's ability to rule if he looses his anger on the most innocent of those he is suppose to protect. . .'

When Alessandro pauses to eat a bit Rei finds his words slowly and speaks them softly. “My duty is to your life, so if I see it threatened, I will act.” He tilts his head to the side. “However, by your word, I will stay my hand so long as I am sure your life is not in danger.” With that said, he joins the prince eating and drinking until the young man stands to leave. His magic trickles around him, his senses keyed up as he straps on his knife and moves to follow behind his ward. As Alessandro strides into the room where his father waits, Rei takes up a position that will keep the prince in sight, but will keep him from the eyes of the king.

The argument is. . .Stupid. There is no other word for it as far as Rei is concerned. The king is acting like a fool who'd just received a swift kick in the ego, and is intent to loose his anger on the only one not at fault. The fae is tense, his hand at his side where he grips the hilt of his dagger tightly. He's seen what anger can make people do and he is ready should the worse come to pass. Rei recognizes the position, and the weapon, but true to his word he does not move from his spot as the first blows fall. Moments later, Peter is there, and the cruelty of the king glows brighter and more loathsome in the small Fae's eyes. 'They are children, barely above whelps, and you beat them like wild dogs!'

It takes more effort than usual for the small male to remain silent, his loathing of the proceedings seen only by Peter who catches his eye once or twice between blows. He doesn't know that his anger on their behalf gives the boy strength, or that the anger endears him to the youth more than anything he's done before. All he knows is that was he is seeing is vile and inhuman and foolish, and had he his way, it would have ended before the first blow fell.

Finally, the king and his dog turn and leave and Rei moves out of the shadows. Unable to vent his loathing on the man, he lets out a hiss at the doctor as she once again speaks to Alessandro in a rather disrespectful tone. She jumps, having not seen him, and at the look in his eyes she backs away slowly like one would from a rabid beast. She flees quickly and soon they are completely alone. The sudden movement of Peter falling on his mater makes Rei's head snap around and he realizes that he's quite wound up. It's been a very long time and he's not quite sure how to handle it, but as he looks at the two holding one another he says a silent blessing he heard some of the healers in his village and moves close to them, placing a hand on each of their backs.

The magic courses through him and very faintly the wounds are soothed, but at the sight of Peter flinching he concludes they still hurt rather badly and he withdraws his hands. Unable to stand still the fae begins to pace, low growls coming from him as he tries to seek a way to calm himself. Peter had noticed that he felt a little better after Rei touched him, but he figured that it was mostly the thought of the scary man trying to comfort him that brought the relief and did not suspect magic at all. As he watches Rei pace he wants to thank him. Thank him for being angry, for not looking on with disinterest as his master was beaten, but he doesn't know how to say it without sounding foolish so he instead looks to his master.

'I have never used my magic like that, I did not know I could. I thought the connection to the earth was lost with the blood I spilt. That is what I was told. . .' His mind goes over the words of the elders, recalling what they said when he asked about his magic and how it differed from everyone else's. His eyes stay on the floor as he paces and growls, a bit like an agitated dog. His hand is still clutching the hilt of his dagger. He knows that releasing his magic would calm him a good deal, but he also knows that he can't. 'After using it on Peter, I do not need him feeling the residual waves in the air from my small magics when I am in this state. Even a human would notice them. . .' He has just enough control to keep his eyes from flashing in his anger, but it takes a good deal of concentration to keep them from glowing behind his feelings.

[cthulu]

Alessandro flinched lightly at Rei's touch, not out of fear but surprise, aside to check him over for wounds the fae did not really do touching on any level. he felt the soothing power flow through him and was somewhat startled, though made no mention of it or move to show what was happening. Peter seemed to flinch more deeply at the fae's fingers and soon they were removed, the Prince offering a protesting squire his shirt before draping his own jacket around his shoulders. Glancing to Rei the Prince tried hard not to smile, "Thank you." He uttered, elaborating not on what he was thanking the fae for as he wasn't fully sure himself. The attempt to help for sure, the anger for their predicament and not reacting to the trouble his father caused.

He lead the little trio back to his room, the odd glance from the servants silenced by the fae who seethed behind them. Though mutters were more about Peter and his activities than the prince's bared chest. Once back at the room Peter sighed, slightly crestfallen but the Prince smiled that gentile smile that said that everything would be okay. He knew about the rumours about Peter and likely knew how true some of them were -for every now and then a rough client would suddenly apologise and give Peter a 'Present' of a few coins to make up for the hurt they'd caused-. He still cared about Peter despite all that and now, now he approached Peter and tilted the boy's head, pressing his lips lightly to those of Peters. "Thank you. You were wonderful." Peter forgot about the pain he had for a moment and wilted inside, unable to reply even as the Prince backed away and shed his jacket, rummaging through the drawers by his bed to find a vial one third full of the tonic the healer had given him. He sought out the clean scraps of cloth he kept hidden there and beckoned a still frazzled Peter to lay on the bed.

The boy instinctively complied, laying on his front and wincing the whole way down. "I will not lie Peter, this will hurt but as long as you keep it clean and properly cared for they won't scar." And if they do I will kill that man. He smiled gently and applied the tonic to the cloth before carefully swiping the wounds. Peter did well to bite back the tears and bit into his own arm to stop from crying out but soon had his face buried in the Prince's pillow to muffle his yells. Each sound seemed to hurt the Prince more and towards the end his hands began to shake. Hurting Peter was not something he'd ever wanted to do and yet here and now he was forced to for his own good. When he was done he recorked the vial and lay a cool hand on the unmarred flesh of Peter's back. He said nothing for a moment, swallowing a lump in his throat before he leaned down and whispered into the boy's ear. "I'm so sorry. Stay in the castle tonight Peter, please?" The boy nodded but said nothing for several minutes before finally he began to painfully move and sit himself up again. He wiped his red eyes and smiled at the Prince, "Keep it uncovered as much as possible and keep it clean. We'll skip training tomorrow but I will talk you through other aspects of being a knight." The boy's eyes flashed with excitement and with a small, croaky thank you he gave a small bow and left.

With it just he and Rei the Prince lay himself on the bed, face down, he offered up the vial, "I can not reach my own back, would you mind?" As he waited for Rei to take it he continued, "Thank you, for not attacking the Steward, Lord knows he would deserve it but the wrath of my father would be unparalleled. They have been friends for longer than my mother has known my father. In the hall, when you laid your hands on us, was that magic?"

[PopeAlessandros]

The fae's eyes snap up at the thanks but he is still too upset to respond properly so he simply nods, falling into step behind the other two as they make their way back to the prince's room. The power crackles inside him as he takes to pacing the prince's room as well, but he pauses to look at the exchange between the boy and the prince, a flicker of his natural curiosity coming into play. 'So, I am not the only of his underlings that he kisses. . .Though kisses like that I have only seen between those who share their bodies really. Or family. They are not family however, so. . .' The sight of Peter's back as he goes to lay down sends more fury coursing through him and his thoughts fail him, his feet carrying him back and forth across the room, his footfalls nearly silent despite the hard soled boots.

His eyes go to the two every so often and he watches how the prince cares for the boy carefully. With Peter unable to see him he lets his eyes vent a bit of his frustration as they glow silver at the sight of his wounds. The young man's cries are loud to his ears, despite the muffling, and he wants very much to cause the king's dog at least as much pain in return. One does not harm children!

Once the treatment is over Rei stills himself, closing his eyes and steadying his breath. He doesn't want to scare Peter by looking magical and vicious after such a painful experience. He knows how the prince cares for him, and right now Rei feels for the boy as well, though the feeling is faint and not fully understood by the poor creature. He looks to the prince who seems to have trouble speaking and feels very much like an outsider. He doesn't understand the feelings he's seeing, he doesn't know how to sympathize with what is happening, and the exchange is far beyond his depths. He does however understand that whatever it is, it is something shared between the two and he should stay out of it. Someone like him would just be a bother trying to do anything to help the two in this moment.

He watches Peter leave, catching his eye for an instant before he leaves, and the small smile on his lips confuses the fae. He does not have time to dwell on it however as the prince calls his attention moments later. He strides over, gently taking the vial and picking up a piece of clean cloth. The bloody cloth on the bedside table draws out more of his anger and as he's alone with the prince now he does not hold back the harsh anger silver glow in his eyes. “I have been called a monster before, however I feel one such as he deserves the title far more than I do. That look of enjoyment on his face as he harmed children. Like a man sitting down to his favorite meal. . .” He growls softly, shifting on to his knees so he can better reach the prince's back and with a sigh he once more says the blessing in his head and hopes that it can do something for the prince.

“Yes, that was healing magic. I have never used it before, the art lost to me when I began staining my spirit with blood, however it seems that by fueling it with anger I am able to channel it slightly.” He takes a slow breath, funneling more and more of his anger into the idea of healing the boy, of soothing his unjustly caused pain. He can feel the magic leeching out through his fingers and gently he begins mimicking the man's movements from before when he'd been treating the boy. He can see the faint glow of his magic being left behind like a residue for a few seconds before fading with each swipe and he murmurs softly, “I do not know if it is working. I can see the magic. . .How does it feel Alessandro?” He continues working, carefully making sure to cover each one before sitting back on his heels and corking the bottle

[cthulu]

Alessandro smiled faintly despite the pain, "Things are only lost until you find them again." He uttered lightly, "I want to hurt the steward too, he only hurt Peter because he knew it would hurt me too." There was an anger usually absent from his voice that tinged the edges. "He's like a little brother to me and just because he's common born and his way of earning money before being my squire was...frowned upon they treat him like dirt. Any other boy would be a knight-in-training by now but they keep putting him off." Alessandro sighed and closed his eyes. "If I ever become king things will be so much different." He mumbled to himself.

The fae shifted close and the Prince waited, the tincture stung but then there was something else. It was cool but not cold, it felt, refreshing and while his back still stung the pain was much less than before. Had he not felt it earlier in the hall he wouldn't have known what it was, perhaps deciding it was nothing more than the tincture. Alessandro remained silent until the fae spoke up, it was the first time that Alessandro heard Rei doubt himself. "It feels good Rei, it doesn't hurt as much anymore. Though, don't wear yourself out on my account, I've dealt with this before." With Rei's sharp eyes it wouldn't be hard to see the faint silver scars, almost invisible to the human eye, that littered his back. Nothing that would be permanent or ruin his chance of marrying, he sighed quietly into the pillow and allowed his eyes to close and fell quiet again for some moments.

Something though seemed to be bugging Rei and Alessandro, allowing himself to relax a little closed his eyes, "Is there something on your mind Rei?"

[PopeAlessandros]

'So, he sees Peter as a little brother, as family. I suppose that explains the kiss in this case, however then where does that have me standing? He has not kissed me like that, however. . .' The little affections filter through his head as he continues listening to Alessandro. 'A job that was frowned upon? I can think of a few, though they do not seem to be important to the prince so I can leave that information aside for now. I may want to ask Peter himself later in case it has potential of bringing harm to him or the prince. I am charged with guarding him as well, and if had anything to do with him leaving the palace' He recalls the prince asking him to stay on the grounds for the night and concludes that the boy's absence is indeed a security risk and he will have to talk to Peter later about his evening activities.

He shakes his head slowly even though the prince can't see it when he warns against wearing himself out. “I am quite upset at the moment, and as such I am overflowing my small well of magic I usually have. It needs direction. This will help. Otherwise I would need to find somewhere else to release it. To tell the truth, this is the safest way I can think of, and the most productive to my duties.” When he finishes with the medicine Rei corks the bottle and sets it aside along with the cloth. Sitting back on his heels he reaching out, his magic still flowing, and ever so gently uses direct contact to do a little more good as the prince relaxes into his pillow.

He continues to think over the affections and protectiveness the man has shown, for both him and Peter, and his insides seem to flicker oddly. His curiosity crackles and races about his body as usual, but along side that feeling is an odd ache he doesn't recognize and for now decides it has something to do with what has just happened. When the prince speaks again, his fingers still for a moment before continuing their paths around his back. As to not wipe away the slick medicine he runs his fingers along the unmarred skin beside each wound, willing them to at the least feel better, and at most, heal more quickly.

Humming softly he thinks about the question for a moment before trying to form words around his thoughts. “As I have said in the past, there are many things I do not understand due to my upbringing and continues estrangement from my people even as I live among them.” He wants to make sure that Alessandro understand where he's coming from with his curious thoughts before going on. “And when I first met you, one of the things that most caught my eye was your protectiveness of the little one, Peter, though I did not know that was his name at the time.”

Humming again he runs his his fingers just under the back of the prince's neck, trying to work on a wound splitting the flesh there. “Since coming here I have seen you show protectiveness for only a few, and it is for that same few that you show what I recognize as affections.” Looking at the back of the man's head he begins listing the people he noticed. “The old man in the tower, your younger sibling, Peter, and the boy in the book store.” At last satisfied that he's covered every wound twice he sits back, rubbing his hands on his pants to get rid of some of the residue. He doesn't get off the bed however, simply sits there on his feet, looking down at the prince.

“Over all, this is understandable to me.” he goes on, his voice soft and still with a note of curiosity he always seems to have when discussing odd matters with the prince. “You have known them for a time, they have done things for you, and you for them. You have a relationship with them that is positive in nature, and they care for you as you care for them. . .” he hesitates for a moment and adds, “As far as I can tell, though I may be wrong as I am not the best at identifying emotions.” Shifting a little so he's now sitting cross-legged he continues staring at the prince, his eyes barely flickering now that he's used up most of his ire.

“I understand them, for the most part, or so I believe, however there is one other person you show affection to, near to the same degree as you do the others that I do not understand.” He's pretty sure the prince can guess where he's going, but not one for misunderstandings, he spell it out anyways. “Me.” Shifting to get a bit more comfortable he tilts his head to the side curiously. “You touch my hair and other parts of me, you held me, and now you have kissed me.” His mind flickers to the press of lips to his crown and he blinks slowly. “While I have no objections to these affections, I have come to wonder why you show them to someone who not only has tried to kill you, but who does not have the right. . .” he searches for the right word, “capacity, to return them.” he tilts his head to the other side, still trying to work it all out.

“I do not deny that I found enjoyment in being held, and I feel a bit more relaxed after you play with my hair or pat my head. The kiss was strange, though not unpleasant, however, again, I do not have anything within me to return to you. My strongest feelings towards you are. . .Protective really. Anger at those around you who seek to harm you, admiration for your honorableness, and curiosity for the many aspects of being I simply do not understand.” He reaches up and touches his own fringes, feeling none of the comfort that comes from having Alessandro touch them. “Like how a simply touch can invoke good feelings. I know the touch of cold steel can invoke fear, I learned that young, and how a hand at your throat could to the same.”

Looking back at the prince he lets out a slow breath. “However, your affections, they bring up in me other feelings, and I do not even understand why you show them. I do you a service, I keep you safe. By my own understanding I should be seen as nothing more than a guard dog, logically, however I do not see you dying for a beast, so. . . .I am simply confused by the whole thing. I like the affections, however I can not reciprocate, and I do not understand why you show them, especially since I can not return them, and most especially since I have barely known you for over a week, and only a few of those were full days together. . .” Letting out a long sigh he falls silent, staring at the prince with curiosity, a longing to know, to understand that looks very much like any other look of longing.

[cthulu]

Alessandro was thoroughly relaxed. Despite the beating he had just taken the ministrations of the fae, the medicine and the magic had left his back rather cool and refreshed. Yes it was still injured, of course it was but the pain, for now, was gone. So once the fae had moved and started stating his confusion the Prince very gingerly pushed himself up, careful not to undo the good work of the fae but wanting to face the other as they spoke. He left his shirt off just like he had instructed Petre to do and sat with his own legs folded and his hands on his thighs.

There was no denying some small mirth as the Prince listened to Rei confusedly stumble about the complex emotional structure of affection and compassion. It was still awful to Alessandro that the fae had been denied such simple gestures of affection and love and yet he couldn't deny that it was cute watching the other man stagger through them. In some ways he was a child learning to walk, he even ran his fingers through his hair to illustrate the point that the touch was not the same as Alessandro's.

The Prince smiled softly, listened intently and said not a word to Rei until he was done. He doubted Rei even knew that the feeling he was describing was the affection he thought he could not master, or that perhaps, it was even a spark of something even more complex. For a moment Alessandro fell into quiet, contemplative thought. How would one broach the subject of emotions with a person who thought himself so thoroughly wretched they'd been locked off to him? Alessandro couldn't just say what he thought the other was feeling, it was something Rei would need to come to understand, for while he'd believe Alessandro to an extent until Rei knew it in his own heart it would not be a fully awakened thing. Rei would find ways to deny it, refute it even.

Once again he felt slight anger rising, that someone who was supposed to care for Rei would make him feel like such an empty shell, like a dog who deserved nothing more than whatever scraps his master threw at him. More than ever Alessandro wanted to gather Rei up and show him the affection and tenderness he was refused but he withheld for now. He didn't want to over load the young fae, even if he desired to see the other male's reaction if Alessandro kissed him for real.

With a long, slow breath he finally looked at Rei and took things from the beginning, “You have a good eye for affection, yes those are the people I care most for in the world, in different ways. The Meister is like the father I wished for, he's done so much for me. My little sister will forever be one of my best friends, the boy in the book shop has had feelings for me for so long, he's risked a lot though I doubt he knows it, so I care for him. Peter, he had such a rough start to life but I've never seen him without a smile on his face and a good word for people.” He paused, contemplating the next person, “I do care for you.” He stated that bit bluntly, “You tried to kill me yes and many would never see passed that. They would not see the man I see in you.” He unfurled his hands and thought for a brief moment how to explain it best, “When you were to kill me that night, you didn't want to. It was your job and you would do it because you are professional. You didn't want to though, I could see it in your eyes.” He paused a moment, “You could have asked for anything of me but you asked for knowledge, a pure pursuit of greater understanding is an incredibly beautiful thing. You have since been a great source of company, of honest and forthright opinion, you get offended on my behalf, angry for me. That is a noble emotion, one few others in this world share with you, Meister, Peter, the book shop boy and my sister are perhaps the only ones who would agree with you. You are...good to look at as well, pleasing.”

He paused again, trying to figure it out himself, though moved onto Rei's own emotions, “You thought that you could not heal but you can. Rei, is it so hard for you to think you can care for someone? You are protective? You admire me? You get angry for me? That is affection, or how all affection starts and then grows into different things.” Alessandro reached out slowly, in case Rei didn't want to be touched by him right now, his fingertips ran into the fae's hair, his palm gently against his cheek as his fingers ran across the scalp of the fae. “This relaxes you because you have affection for me. Do you feel like trying a small experiment? Something to help you understand I hope.”

If Rei should any sign of agreement the Prince leaned in, the hand in Rei's hair holding him gently in place, the other hand coming up to cup the other side of his face and the hairline and gently he placed his lips against Rei's. They lingered there for a long count of five before Alessandro leaned away and asked quietly, "Now, did anything happen for you? Did your body feel weird or different? Like a pulse of energy running through you, starting in your belly perhaps?"

[PopeAlessandros]

'He is smiling. I suppose I can take that as a good sign that he will be able to explain all of this. . .' Rei muses, watching the prince closely as he waits to hear what the man has to say to sate his curiosity. E listens silently, nodding as the prince assures him that he's been correct in his assessment of the people he likes most in the world. He feels a small hint of comfort that he was able to do so without any help and waits patiently to hear more. He blinks slowly as Alessandro flat out says that yes, indeed, he has affection for him too, and waits to hear his reasoning behind it. He is neither a father, nor family of any kind, nor has he – in his opinion at least – risked himself for the man. He can't even claim what Peter has aside from the rough upbringing. Smiles are not a think for little Rei, and he knows it. Nor has he, as far as he can tell, ever really had a kind word for anyone.

He nods in agreement, about his lack of desire to kill, and thinks back to those he grew up with. Those who came out of training with a lust for blood. They had seemed a little mad to Rei, but it had never been his business to judge. He blinks slowly as Alessandro calls his pursuit of knowledge a beautiful thing and wonders is something as silly as that can really be considered for such a thing as beauty. He's come to understand, though perhaps not recognize, beauty in the physical world. Metaphorical beauty is completely lost on him.

His head tilts slowly to the side as he begins describing attributes Rei isn't quite sure he has. 'Well, I do get angry about the injustice around him, and I am honest with him. However, other than that, I do not see how how I could be considered a good companion for company. I lurk. I slink about. I stand around looking frightening. I scurry about like a child hunting down candy on occasion. . .Unless of course that is what he enjoys in a companion. . .' He doesn't feel particularly noble, thinking that all people should act as he does in the fact of such cruel and selfish things at the prince has to put up with, but before he can voice this the man goes on to call him physically attractive, or at least pretty to look at.

Glancing down at himself he think about it for a moment before dismissing the thought. 'People either look at my with terror, or disgust, or simply look disturbed around me. . .' He pauses in thought, looking up at the prince. 'Well, I suppose, those people he has mentioned have looked at me differently, however I have not seen that expression on their faces that I have come to recognize mean someone is attracted to another person' In all his people watching, he's learned a few things, and so far, he's never seen anyone looking attracted to him. Hehas seen some interesting expressions on the prince's face, but he's yet to place them in his mind, and doesn't think about them.

The prince then goes on to tell him that he, Rei, has been expression affection completely without realizing it. His brow furrows and he feels the urge to disagree. He knows he doesn't feel these things. He knows what each of those feelings are, and they are not affection. He hesitates however, reminding himself that he's the one who asked Alessandro to teach him about such things. That the prince himself has these feelings and always has and would be more well equipped to recognize them. Blinking slowly he tilts his head to the other side, his face pressing softly into that hand as it caresses his face and hair.

He feels the familiar feeling of warmth and calm trickling through him at the touch and lets it dance around his veins, trying to get a good feel for it in his need to understand what it really is he's feeling. His eyes go to the prince as he nods, willing to give anything a shot at this point. He wants to know, to understand. 'He is right, I can heal, and I was told I would never be able to. . .If an elder can be wrong about something so important, perhaps I too can be wrong about what I can and cannot feel. . .' Keeping his eyes on the prince as he moves closer, guessing moments before it happens what he's going to do.

A spark strikes him making him shiver slightly. Starting from the place where their lips meet it seems to trace along where Alessandro is touching him before slipping down over his heart and ending as a coiled knot around his spine. His body feels warmer and his eyes alight at the unfamiliar feeling, a strange feeling of something alive in his stomach making him wonder if Alessandro had used some kind of magic on him. 'No, no, I would be able to tell if this was magic. . .' The flesh upon his own lingers, and another shot runs through him, making his fingers twitch as it rushes about his extremities.

When Alessandro pulls back Rei's breathing has become slightly irregular and his skin stills seems to dance from the strange energy given off by the kiss. His tongue comes out to cross his slightly dry lips. The feeling of that slick muscle running over them produces and odd sensation and he's not quite sure he likes this lack of understanding and control of his own body. Then, he firmly reminds himself that learning is sometimes uncomfortable, and he does his best to give the prince his attention, wanting desperately to be given some understanding of what's happening to him.

Blinking slowly he shakes his head. “No, not my stomach. . .” He reaches up, brushing his lips with his fingertips. “Here. . .As if it was passed from you, to me. . .” He shivers, his fingers eliciting some pleasant feelings before he drops them to his lap once more. “It felt like. . .Energy, warmth, racing through my body, making it tingle.” He blinks again. “It was not unpleasant. . .Is it what you thought would happen?” His hands come up to rest on the prince's wrists, gripping them softly. “Can you tell me what it is?” He wants now more than ever to understand things, to understand himself, and his fingers moving of their own accord seem to be trying to encourage Alessandro to respond. “You can do that again, if you think it will help.” He knows that experimentation is many times the best way to learn, and he doesn't really mind trying that particular experiment again.

[cthulu]

Rei was clearly confused, despite his best attempts to remain respectful he wasn't convinced. There was so many intricacies to affection, it's different forms, the way it could grow into more, it was too much to explain all in one go. Though as his lips parted from Rei's he noted the change in the fae, the difference was reassuring though part of Alessandro wondered if the fae had simply held his breath during the kiss.

Rei was soon dispelling that thought with a description of what he'd felt during their kiss. Alessandro listened quietly and when asked if that was what he'd though would happen he gave a slight nod, "Yes it is." Though how to explain it? "It's...tricky to explain." Though Rei came up with another solution, further experimentation? "If you are...sure." Alessandro stated lightly, it was cruel in some ways, the fae had no idea what was happening, if things progressed Alessandro wouldn't say no but would that be taking advantage? Further what if they were caught? It hardly mattered though, right?

Looking at the fae's begging eyes, desire hidden in a murky confusion. Alessandro caressed the boy's cheeks gently, "Alright. This time, I want you to go with whatever your body feels like doing, alright? It'll be a better experiment that way." It felt so wrong to deceive him like this but at the same time it was the only way to prove both the Prince's theory and the Fae's misunderstood 'truth'. If it got too far Alessandro hoped he'd be strong enough to stop things but part of him didn't want to be that strong. "If things get too...strange and you feel you can't deal with it anymore, just say stop alright?" Emotions, especially attraction and excitement, had a habit of burning out of control if they weren't watched carefully.

If the fae agreed to the terms of their 'experiment' he leaned in once again, this time he tilted his head slightly to one side, guiding Rei in with his hands before allowing one to fall away from his face and slip, fingertips tracing his neck and shoulders, to the middle of his back, bringing him closer but not forcefully. His lips pressed firmly but not crushing nor hard to Rei's own, once again they lingered there, waiting to see Rei's reaction before he dared think about 'extending' the experiment.

[PopeAlessandros]

Rei listens, ready to hear any kind of explanation. He wants to know, to learn, to move on from this confusion to some kind of understanding. Alessandro however decides to go with the experimental option and Rei nods in agreements, ready to continue trying. 'The more I feel it, the more I will be able to identify and understand it. If I can learn this, then maybe I will be able to learn other things. To progress, to move on. . .Not just in my mind, but. . .But in other parts of myself. . .' He takes a slow breath, watching the man closely.

Shivering slightly at the feeling of the hands on his cheeks Rei nods slowly. “I understand Alessandro.” he murmurs, wondering why the feeling of the man's hands somehow seems stronger now. In some strange way it seems to affect him more. What the effect is, he knows not, however he is more intent now than ever before to find these things out. His normally completely well organized, alert mind feels both more scattered and more focused. It's not enough to scare him away, but as the prince leans back in he wonders just how simple touches can have such an effect, and why anyone would seek them out.

Lips are upon his own again. Warm, soft, moving ever so slightly. The brushing touches send shiver though his body and he tries to focus on them, to understand them. However, then a hand begins moving to new places and his mind and body both are caught between following the new feelings, and reveling in the old ones. Unable to decide he simply lets out a small sound and lets his concentration split.

His lips move slightly against Alessandro's and he recalls the prince telling him to do what he feels like doing, not just sitting there accepting the affections. He repeats the action, his own hands coming up between them to settle against the bare flesh they find there. The hand against his back pulls him in closer and the fae shifts, allowing his body to be moved while letting out another soft noise as his body seems to light on fire from the inside out.

He can not know that this is a strong reaction to such simple things, nor that most people would not be nearly as responsive. He's never been taught these things. No one has bothered to tell him about intimacy. The assassins never thought it something worth teaching, and the fae. . .Well, none wanted to come close to him, so they could never teach him anyways. A rushing heat moves about him to all the places Alessandro is touching, a concentrated burn in his stomach and loins making him shift a little, squirming as he tries desperately to hold on to the moment and not fall away into the heat seeking to consume him.

His hands slide a little higher, clutching the prince's shoulders firmly, and he shifts in a little closer, his lips gently trying to mimic what Alessandro is doing, to try and learn, to understand. His breath has quickened, coming through his nose as his lips are occupied, and he begins feeling like he's wearing far to many articles of clothing. They seems to be in the way and he wonders if he can keep kissing the man and get his top off.